A Helping Hand
Authors Note: I do NOT own Home and Away. All credit goes to the writers.
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Reviews:
FrankElza: Thank-you, I wasn't sure how to plan new years eve out so I thought staggering would give you a taste of different periods of time. I'm sure we'll see more of an insight to Heath being surrounded by girls in further chapters. I wanted to keep Chax light; while they touched on a few deeper topics I didn't want to make it to serious. And Casey finally made it, a relationship for him and Ruby maybe in my plans but you'll have to wait and see.
Fanfiction.79: Glad you liked the update. I did want Charlie to feel as though she could trust Brax with anything. And I am especially glad you like Casey's appearance, that was just for you and I will have a bit more of them, probably not in every chapter though! (:
Lazza77: Glad you liked the update. Bianca has made her appearance but I'm not quite sure if she will remain a main character, I do love her and Heath together but I don't want to progress them to fast.
Laura: I see you think the chapter was perfect ahah, thank-you! I'm glad you liked the timeline throughout this chapter; it took me a while to work out how I would write it out. Bianca does have some explaining to do. Thank you, my scan did go very well and we are so excited to be expecting a little girl! (:
RoRo90: Glad this chapter reached favourite status! Hehe. Thank god you liked the start because it literally took me forever to figure out how to start the chapter. The breakdown of the different times throughout the day was something I thought would be a little different. Ruby going out to the party was the perfect place for me to introduce Casey which wasn't actually meant to be part of the chapter! Heath is just a fun, loving, carefree dad who is just trying his best, I love writing him in this type of aspect. Bianca is back and I am not quite sure how her character will develop but this chapter will give you a hint as to why she has come back to the bay so suddenly. I think I might dig in a little deeper as to why she left and hopefully this chapter leaves some hints for you. So happy you loved the Chax bits. I tried to make it so the pieces of information they were giving about their lives were important but it didn't make it too serious. I want Charlie to be able to trust and have faith in Brax from the start which is what I am trying to portray.
Guest: I don't usually do Christmas/New Years as I find it hard to write but I feel as though it goes perfectly with this story. I want Charlie and Brax to have an easy relationship trust wise. You should be able to open up to your partner/potential partner. Bianca is back and you'll soon find out why! Glad you loved the chapter.
Neena: I want Charlie to feel completely at ease around Brax which is exactly how you should be when you find the one! I had to make him panic a little about the date ;) and Leah did seem like a good fit of the part. Casey and Ruby, well there is potential! And Bianca's return is definitely a cliff-hanger. Hope you liked it!
Sorry for the short chapter guys, probably not what you all expected but I have been crazy busy. I ended up going into hospital and have since then been taking it easy.
Would like to let you all know we are expecting a little girl!
Hope you like this chapter.
Thank-you to all those reviewed, warms my heart to see that you all love the idea of this story. Please enjoy chapter ten!
Chapter Ten: Brothers & Sneak Peeks.
1st Of January, 2016.
Charlie placed her mug of hot tea onto the small side table beside the arm chair, opening the book in her lap. She couldn't help let her mind wander to last night's date, the entire night had been perfect and she felt a huge weight fall off her shoulders knowing that she was open and honest with Brax about her past from the start.
She wanted a man that she could be open with about anything and Brax provided that, he made her feel as though she didn't have to hide anything.
Resting her head back she closed her eyes and smiled at the memory of the kiss they'd shared last night, his soft lips moving against hers.
"Brax!"
Charlie's eyes snapped open and she almost jumped out of her chair at the sound of Heath barging through the front door of the house. "Heath, what are you…"
Heath ignored her. "Brax, get your butt out here now!"
Charlie looked over at the four girls who came trudging through the house after him, Ruby having chosen to ring and see if she could spend the night at Heath's with April. "What is going on?" She looked at Nicole as she sat down on her mother's lap rubbing her eyes.
"Heath is being weird" Nicole yawned.
"Brax!"
Brax emerged from his bedroom, rubbing his face. "Heath, what the bloody hell are you doing? Are you trying to wake the neighbourhood?" He raised his eyebrow at his brother's clothes. "What the hell are you wearing? It's cold"
Heath looked down at his body, he was dressed in a singlet and board shorts. "Surfing. Brother time. Now. I'll be outside" With those words he stalked out of the house.
Brax stared at the doorway in confusion, he was so tired, he contemplated that it was a dream for a moment until he looked at his nieces who were leaning against the couch tiredly. "What is wrong with him?"
April yawned. "Don't ask me, he was a grumpy mess when I got home"
"He got grumpy after someone came to visit last night" Darcy supplied as she wrapped her arms around April.
Brax exhaled, he hadn't seen Heath act like that in quite a while. He usually kept his behaviour calm and fun in front of the girls which made him wonder who could have been at the door. "Alright, how about you two go and jump in my bed and get some sleep" He suggested, since it was only six thirty. "By the time we've been surfing your dad will be back to normal"
Darcy looked up at her Uncle. "Promise?"
"Of course, kid"
Charlie looked at her daughters. "You two go hop in bed too, it's still early. When you four get up, we'll go to breakfast at the diner"
Brax glanced over at her. "I can bring you home something" He offered.
"Nope" Charlie shook her head as she help Nicole off her lap, Ruby placing an arm around her younger sister and guiding her towards the bedroom. "I have my first pay check from you and I am taking the girls to breakfast" She stood up and walked towards him. "You are really going surfing in this weather?" She asked curiously.
Brax nodded. "Yeah, something is clearly bothering him. Spending some time out on the water will clear his head so he can get his thoughts right"
Charlie smiled. "You're a pretty amazing brother" She couldn't believe how much he had done for Heath, how much he was still willing to do. "Heath is very lucky to have you"
Brax wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "You're pretty lucky to have me too" He teased. "How'd you sleep?"
Charlie giggled as she looked up into his eyes. "I slept like a baby" The honking of the car horn made Brax huff and her laugh. "You better go before your brother explodes"
"Sometimes I wonder if that would be a bad thing" He chuckled as he headed to the laundry to find some board shorts.
^..^
Brax dumped his surf board down and shook the water from his hair before picking up his towel. "You want to tell me what's wrong now?" He finally asked since Heath had barely spoken a word since they'd left the house.
Heath dropped down into the sand beside his board. "I wondered where she was. I thought about all the things I would say to her if I ever say her again but last night…" His hands balled into fists in the sand. "Who does she think she is coming back here, turning up at my house where my daughters could have seen her" He was counting his lucky stars that it was only Darcy home and that she had been too caught up in getting ice-cream to pay attention to the person on their doorstep.
Brax dropped down beside his brother, he knew who Heath was talking about and his blood began to boil. She'd put the family through so much only to turn up six years later. "She's back" He clarified.
Heath grunted. "Apparently"
"What did she want?"
"To see me" He spat the words out. "What am I meant to tell my girls?" He shook his head as he thought about his daughters; he'd been raising them as a solo parent for six years. And finally they'd reached a point in their lives where they could be happy.
"What are you gonna do?" Brax asked.
Heath glared out at the ocean. "I don't know. Why after six years does she decide to make an appearance? The girls are in a good place. I'm in a good place"
Brax nodded, humming quietly as he agreed with his brothers words. Things were good for his brother, business was great, the girls were happy, healthy and doing well in school. And even though they rarely talked about Heath's private life, he was fairly sure Jess would be back in the bay within a few days. She was Heath's companion, they weren't dating but for the last year and a half they'd been seeing each other occasionally since she lived in Melbourne and was only able to come to Summerbay every few months. It was company for him without the commitment since his number one priority was April and Darcy. "You're going to have to tell the girls sooner rather than later. You don't want them seeing her before you've had the chance to speak to them"
Heath huffed. "I know. April isn't going to deal with this well. Darcy was only three but April she remembers everything"
Brax clasped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know mate. Maybe try talking to…well, Bianca first. See what she wants so you can at least tell the girls why she is here"
Heath shook his head. "That's just it Brax. I don't want to speak to her. She left. We were both grieving and she left me and the girls. They needed their mother too"
Brax nodded, he understood why Heath didn't want to speak to her. "I know, it's a shitty situation but you have to deal with it" he stood up. "Come on, how about we meet the girls at the diner. I'm sure they'd be there by now"
Heath blew a deep breath. "Yeah alright"
^..^
"Are you sure you want to buy us breakfast, I can pay for Darce and myself" April offered, she knew Charlie had only just received her first pay check from Brax and she didn't want Charlie to spend it all on breakfast.
Charlie shook her head. "Don't be silly" She wanted to do this, after all even the girls had helped them out by giving Ruby and Nicole their old clothes and offering to help with catching up with school work. It wasn't just Brax that she felt as though she owed.
"Charlie?"
Charlie looked down at Darcy who was holding her right hand, Nicole clinging to the left. "Yes honey?"
"Do you think Uncle Brax has made dad feel better? I don't like it when he's upset"
Charlie smiled, she didn't know what had been bugging Heath this morning but she knew Brax would take care of it so it didn't affect the girls. "I'm sure your dad is feeling a lot better" Charlie murmured as they entered the diner. She immediately smiled at the establishment, she couldn't believe after two weeks in the bay she still hadn't set foot in the diner.
"April. Darcy. I haven't seen you two in a while"
April smiled at Irene. "We've been really busy" She offered. "This is Charlie, Ruby and Nicole; they've been staying with Uncle Brax"
Irene smiled at the new comers; she'd heard about them through whispers around the town but was beginning to not believe them since she hadn't actually met them. "So the rumours are true. It's wonderful to meet you ladies"
Charlie smiled, feeling Nicole lean into her shyly. "It's nice to meet you too"
"Why don't you go find yourselves a seat and I will be over to take your order shortly"
"Thanks Irene" April smiled as she lead the way to the table in the back corner paying no attention to the blonde who had just stepped into the diner behind them with a small baby in her arms.
…
Bianca felt her heart clench as she saw April and Darcy with the woman and girls. She had pictured them a million different ways but the image had never been clear. Looking at them now she could see how grown up they were, sixteen and nine, years she'd missed. Wrapping her arms tighter around the baby, she looked down at him and in his face all she could see were the features of his father and sister.
She didn't know see how her daughters, if she even had the right to call them that anymore, would accept her back into their lives. She'd been absent when they probably needed her. And if it wasn't for the tiny baby in her arms then she most likely wouldn't have come back to Summerbay, to them. She would admit that she was ashamed, ashamed of the way she'd abandoned them and Heath but it was the only thing she could think of doing at the time to spare them the pain of the downward spiral she was in. the things she had contemplated doing to herself back then was not something she ever wanted her girls to witness.
"Come on" Bianca whispered quietly to the baby in her arms. "They don't need to see us. Not until I've spoken to your father. I'll make this right little man, I have to, I promised your mother I would" She dropped a kiss his little forehead and left the diner with hopes that the girls hadn't seen her.
She knew within herself that she needed to speak to Heath first, revealing herself to the girls would only cause more harm than it would good. She wasn't even sure she should be here at all, maybe it was a bad idea, it looked as though Heath had moved on and found happiness and now she was going to spring this on him. He deserved to know but it could potentially ruin any happiness he had.
^..^
Charlie tightened her grip on Brax's hand as they walked along the beach towards home. She'd seen her girl's smile at the action before skipping ahead down the beach to give them some privacy. She had no doubt that they would bombard her with questions later but they were well-mannered enough to know it wasn't the right time to ask while they were in public.
"How were the girls this morning?" Brax broke the silence.
Charlie glanced up at him. "They were fine. Slept in. I think last night tired them out"
He smiled. "Did Ruby have a good time?"
"Well she hasn't been able to wipe the smile off her face all day so I think she had a great time" she rubbed her thumb across his palm. "What was bothering Heath?" She blushed. "Sorry, none of my business"
Brax rolled his eyes. "Soon the whole town will know and gossip will be flying around. You're part of our lives" He spoke quietly; he wouldn't keep this from her. He didn't want her to hear all the gossip flying around town once people started seeing Bianca. He wanted her to know the truth so that she didn't believe some wild story started by Colleen. "Heath's wife is back in town"
"Heath is married?" She raised her eyebrow, that was new information.
Brax huffed. "I'm sure he'd rather be divorced but he didn't know where she was so he couldn't give her the papers"
"What does she want?" Charlie asked curiously, from what she did know, it was clear that she had abandoned Heath and the girls and that had been the cause of why Brax shifted them to Summerbay.
Brax shrugged. "He doesn't know. He's angry and confused, not that I can blame him. It's been six years; we honestly thought she was never coming back"
Charlie rubbed his arm. "You cared for her?"
"She was family" Was all Brax offered. "So I was thinking, next week, how about another date?"
Charlie giggled, she knew he was changing the subject but it was a perfect distraction. "Already?"
Brax released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, I want to spend more time with you"
Charlie looked down at the golden sand, a blush creeping across her features. Last night had been perfect and she couldn't wait for more nights like that. "I think that sounds wonderful"
"Mum!"
Charlie smiled as Nicole came running towards them. "Yes honey?"
The nine year old blushed slightly. "Sorry, did I interrupt?"
Brax chuckled; the young girl was as well-mannered as ever. "Of course not"
Nicole smiled before looking back at her mother. "Can we go swimming tomorrow, please?"
Charlie ran her hand through her daughter's blonde hair. "We'll have to see what the weather is like. Come on, let's get home. We can watch a movie"
"My pick?"
Charlie looked at Brax as he had spoken in time with Nicole, she just giggled. "How about you two pick a movie together?"
Nicole slipped her hand into Brax's free one surprising him. "Can we watch we brought a zoo, Darcy gave it to me?"
Brax felt Charlie slip away from him and he could see she had moved to walk with Ruby, feeling the tug on his hand, he looked down. "What's that about?"
Nicole shrugged. "I don't know, that's why I want to watch it"
Charlie linked her arm through Ruby's. "How was your night my beautiful girl?" Charlie asked.
Ruby blushed, after meeting Casey she had spent the majority of the night speaking to him but she didn't want her mother to know that just yet. She knew it was wrong to hide something like that but she had a feeling her mother wouldn't take the news of her hanging out with a boy very well. It would be a new experience for the both of them. "It was great mum. I had a really good time" Ruby smiled as she leaned against her mother. "Thank you for letting me go"
Charlie smiled at her teenager's happiness, looking forward she saw Nicole was chatting with Brax and giggling wildly which only made her smile brighten. She could get used to days like this, the four of them together.
^..^
Well, what are your thoughts? Read & Review?! Please.